Labour council spends £2,720 on office artwork available in our town centre from £826 to £1,496

Armchair auditor Peter Malpas has found out from published tables that Chorley's Labour Council spent £2,720 before VAT on 25 "images" for their Union Street offices. To put real meaning to the cost in the lives of taxpayers, that is equivalent with VAT to £3,264, £130 per image.

But Peter Malpas sensed the price paid by taxpayers was far too high and checked out local offers. "For the 25 quantity required, the first popular photo chain I visited in our own town centre could offer the same number of 20 x 20 inch canvass prints at £40 each through to the largest 60 x 40 inch at £72 each including VAT - a far cry from the £130 Chorley Council had paid including VAT."

"They had a buy one, get one half price offer, plus another 10% discount off canvasses and prints."

Visitors to Chorley town hall will be familiar with large canvass prints showing local scenes in committee rooms and public areas.

So how much could Chorley Council have saved by shopping in their own town centre?

25 Canvass Prints, ex VAT

20 x 20 inch £826, saving taxpayers £1,894

20 x 30 inch £841, saving taxpayers £1,879

40 x 30 inch, £1,354, saving taxpayers £1,366

60 x 40 inch, £1,496, saving taxpayers £1,224

Peter adds "I visited just one shop - there may be other cheaper offers elsewhere."

Peter routinely checks out Chorley Council's spending data, which now has to be published by local authorities. Peter Malpas is one of our candidates in next years Chorley Council elections.

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